Government Budgets

.

FY2024 Illinois Federal Grants Dashboard

As the role of the federal government in funding state and local governments has shifted rapidly, it has become important to understand what federal funding looks like on a state-level basis. This dashboard provides detailed information on…

.

Which Cuts Didn't Make the Cut - Efficiency Opportunities for Chicago's FY2026 Budget

by Daniel VeseckyNote: This summary was prepared in advance of the November 10, 2025, hearing to serve as an easy reference for City Council members, media, advocates, and Chicago residents.With the City of Chicago (Chicago or the ‘City’)…

.

Trends in Chicago Police Department Spending

by Grant McClintock Most of the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD, or the ‘Department’) spending (96.5%) is budgeted through the City’s Corporate Fund, or general operating fund. This analysis provides a snapshot of CPD spending within…

.

Chicago's Budget Growth: 2019-2025

by Daniel VeseckyIn 2019, the City of Chicago (Chicago or the ‘City’) had a budget of $8.9 billion, excluding grants from the State of Illinois (Illinois or the ‘State’) and the Federal government. By 2025, expenditures had grown to $12.4…

.

GOMB Report Projects Pressure on Illinois’ Budget Amid Federal Policy Changes

By Lily Padula Each fall, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) issues its…

.

Federal Shutdown Threatens Food Assistance for Illinois Families

By Paula Worthington Over 41 million individuals rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) to assist in buying food each month—including nearly 1.9 million individuals in Illinois. The current federal…

.

Chicago's FY2026 Proposed Budget: A Stumbling Start

By Grant McClintock and Daniel VeseckyUpdate 11/6/2025: On November 5, S&P Global Ratings adjusted its outlook on Chicago’s credit rating from stable to negative. Read the Civic Federation's…

.

Setting the Stage for the FY2026 Chicago Budget

by Grant McClintock Download the report summarySee the Civic Federation's…

.

Improving Chicago’s Budget Process: The Case for a City Charter

by Grant McClintockChicago is the only major city in the United States that operates without a constitution, which, for cities, is referred to as a charter. This absence is not just an anomaly; it fundamentally impacts every aspect of our…

.

Local Pension Dashboard

The Civic Federation’s Local Pension Dashboard is intended for use as a resource and educational tool to increase the accessibility of local pension fund data. The dashboard reports metrics for the ten major local pension funds within the…